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US3667075A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Mattress spring bellows assembly as for hospitals, and the like

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-02-24
•
Granted: 1972-06-06
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Expires: 1990-02-24
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Abstract

Abstract The invention discloses a mattress, as for a hospital bed, an assembly of inflatable bellows spring segments being interposed between the under side of the mattress and a support box therefor which may be said to correspond to the conventional bed spring supporting slats under the springs of conventional mattresses. All of the adjustments offered by conventional hospital bed frames, and more, may be made for the mattress of this invention by virtue of the shapes into which the combinations of spring bellows segments may be inflated. The invention, in effect, employs a careful selection of bellows spring segment shapes, not only to provide a wide range of positional adjustments of the mattress, but these segments may serve, cooperatively, to provide the springs of the mattress, also with the degree of spring or cushioning effect being infinitely adjustable by virtue of the selective inflation of bellows segments, and the selectivity provided as to degree of inflation of the respective bellows.

Inventors

  • 👤 Wesley D Ballard

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 04:47
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C20/00; A47C20/04; A47C20/048; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86493; Y10T137/86574; Y10T137/86622

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 218 words
In combination with a transversely bondable mattress having longitudinally spaced apart first and second transversely extending bend lines thereacross, adjacent the head and foot ends of the mattress, respectively, the combination of a spring bellows assembly comprising separate bellows, a support box comprised of substantially rigid bottom, ends and sides, and of rectangular cross-section in plan and of height to receive said separate bellows assembly therein when deflated, and also the lower part of said mattress upon said deflated separate bellows assembly with mattress to extend with upper surface at a level above the upper level of said box, said separate bellows comprising a head bellows spring segment extending from said first bend line toward said head end and selectively inflatable to subtend a head end lift degree in side elevation, a knee lift bellows spring segment having base dimension from substantially mattress first bend line to said foot end, and being selectively inflatable to dispose an apex at mattress second bend line beneath the knees of a patient, said assembly also including selectively operable means to inflate, deflate and lock in selective degrees of inflation, each of said segments, said box providing outlet opening means from which compressed air conduits from said selective spring bellows segments may extend, said conduits being included by said selectively operable means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 218 words
In combination with a transversely bondable mattress having longitudinally spaced apart first and second transversely extending bend lines thereacross, adjacent the head and foot ends of the mattress, respectively, the combination of a spring bellows assembly comprising separate bellows, a support box comprised of substantially rigid bottom, ends and sides, and of rectangular cross-section in plan and of height to receive said separate bellows assembly therein when deflated, and also the lower part of said mattress upon said deflated separate bellows assembly with mattress to extend with upper surface at a level above the upper level of said box, said separate bellows comprising a head bellows spring segment extending from said first bend line toward said head end and selectively inflatable to subtend a head end lift degree in side elevation, a knee lift bellows spring segment having base dimension from substantially mattress first bend line to said foot end, and being selectively inflatable to dispose an apex at mattress second bend line beneath the knees of a patient, said assembly also including selectively operable means to inflate, deflate and lock in selective degrees of inflation, each of said segments, said box providing outlet opening means from which compressed air conduits from said selective spring bellows segments may extend, said conduits being included by said selectively operable means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 52 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1, in which said selectively operable means includes a bank of solenoid operated valves, selectively switch actuated to control compressed air delivery to selective bellows segment, compressed air venting from selective bellows segment, and blockage of compressed air passage into or from said selective bellows segment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 68 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1, in which said selectively operable means for each bellows segment includes a spool valve, selectively movable between position of compressed air supply open to selective bellows segment in a spool valve upper position, blockage of compressed air communication in a spool valve central position, and compressed air passage open from selective bellows segment to vent in a spool valve lower position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 45 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said separate bellows additionally include a lower head end bellows spring segment extending from below mattress first bend line toward said head end and selectively inflatable to subtend an under head lift degree in side elevation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 42 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said separate bellows additionally includes, under the bellows aforesaid, a segment of full mattress length in extent, and with other segments deflated, being adapted to raise the mattress to a straight tilt position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 48 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said separate bellows additionally includes, under the bellows aforesaid, a segment of full mattress length in extent, and with otHer segments deflated, being adapted to raise the mattress to a head end upwardly, foot end downwardly, full tilt position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 48 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said separate bellows additionally includes, under the bellows aforesaid, a segment of full mattress length in extent, and with other segments deflated, being adapted to raise the mattress to a foot end upwardly, head end downwardly, full tilt position.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2094926A Cited
US2769182A Cited
US2965134A Cited
US2916019A Cited
US3303518A Cited
FR1422606A Cited
US3392412A Cited
US3465373A Cited
US3530514A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1975-06-06 1975-12-06 1976-06-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1979-06-06 1979-12-06 1980-06-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1983-06-06 1983-12-06 1984-06-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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